In Florida, a person over the age of 21 may operate or ride a motorcycle without wearing a helmet if he or she is covered by an insurance policy that provides for at least $10,000 in medical benefits. Prior Florida law required all riders to wear helmets.
While this law provides unwavering freedom to Florida motorcyclists, its downfall is significant. In the three years prior to Florida’s helmet law change, Florida averaged 160 motorcycle deaths per year. Since the change in Florida’s helmet law, motorcycle deaths have significantly increased. In 2012, there was more than 450 motorcycle deaths.
While motorcycle activists in other states are actively lobbying for looser helmet laws in their respective states, safety advocates frequently rely on Florida’s relaxed helmet law and its correlating increase in motorcycle deaths to oppose lenient helmet laws. Due to the increasing number of deaths in Florida, states across the country are turning to stricter helmet laws for motorcyclists.
Disparti Fowkes & Hasanbasic represents consumers throughout Pasco County and Pinellas County, including residents of Trinity, New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson, Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio, St. Petersburg, Seminole, Oldsmar, Treasure Island, Belleair Beach, Clearwater, Dunedin, Safety Harbor, Gulfport, Indian Shores, Pinellas Park, Tarpon Springs, and Largo.
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